Police keen for high-tech cars

Forty-eight of the cars, purchased with revenue from speeding fines, will be rolled out across Western Australia.

Officers in Karratha test drove one of the vehicles this week.

The cars are fitted with technology that scans numberplates and alerts police if a driver's licence is invalid.

It also has a forward-facing video camera and a dashboard speed camera.

Inspector Peter Morrissey says Pilbara police are hoping to get two of the vehicles later this year.

"This bit of kit, as a local initiative to be based in the Pilbara to be able to be out on the highways identifying people we should be speaking to and who shouldn't be driving, is going to be really, really handy," he said.

"Getting two of these new pieces of kit will be fantastic new tools for our toolbox here in the Pilbara to help us with road safety and essentially help us prevent the loss of lives and serious injury on the road."